She tugged her knees to her chest. Curled around her wound, and let the pain sweep her away. At some point, cool arms wrapped around her, lifted her up. It took all her remaining energy just to open one eye.

Rozalind was carrying her to bed. Then her eyelids fluttered shut, and she forgot about anything but sleep.

16

Florencia

Day five of her confinement crawled.

Over a week had passed since Zofi left, since Father fell unconscious. Last night, Akeylah sent word that she had the cure in hand. Ren prayed for good news. Sun knew they needed it.

As for Ren, she couldn’t stop turning the latest discovery over in her mind. Rozalind. A princess of Genal and a queen of Kolonya. A queen who might be carrying Andros’s only surviving legitimate child. If so, then the words true heir described Rozalind’s unborn child better than anyone else in the Reaches.

But why hide her pregnancy from the king? That was the one piece of the puzzle Ren couldn’t snap into place.

Why bring the girls to court only to drive them away again?

She was spared from chasing that question in circles late in the afternoon, when a visitor arrived with her dinner.

Ren waited until the Talons left before she embraced her friend. “How are you?”

Audrina laughed, her breath stirring Ren’s already messy hair. “You’re caged inside your own bedroom and you ask how I’m doing?” The girls broke apart, and Ren surveyed her friend while Audrina laid out the dinner tray she’d brought with her.

Aud wore another new dress, jet-black with long sleeves. Darker than Aud usually preferred, though it was still within the parameters set for maids’ outfits. Nice, but not too nice.

Can’t have the ladies you serve feeling inadequate.

Ren smiled when she spotted the contents of the dinner tray. Audrina had brought all of her favorites—globe fruit, Lyra the cook’s specialty bread, a fluffy white variety only the nobles were allowed. Even a pot of bright-yellow Northern curry topped with hackley leaf. “Isn’t this out of season?” Ren reached for a spoon to stir the hackley into the thick, creamy stew.

“Lyra owed me a favor. Anyway, you’re a lady now, you can eat whatever you want.”

“I’m a prisoner; I’m pretty sure I’m not allowed any such considerations. Besides, I thought we agreed not to give each other special treatment anymore.” Ren raised an eyebrow.

“This doesn’t count,” Audrina protested. “I’m just comforting a friend in need.” She peered around Ren’s chambers with a groan. “Sun above, Ren. I can’t believe your tormenter went so far as to invent a tale this immense. Is there no way to prove your innocence?”

Ren shut her eyes.

After a minute, Audrina let out a slow breath. “I see. The accusation is true.”